GOT (RADIOACTIVE) MILK?

During the 1960s, the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) supported research across the nation to investigate the hazards and effects of fallout atomic energy and radiation. The Controlled Environmental Radioiodine Tests (CERT) were a collection of research experiments organized through the AEC and conducted in Idaho from 1963-1968. The CERT experiments involved the intentional release of radioactive iodine (also referred to as radioiodine or I-131) to the environment, cows, and human subjects. The design of the CERT experiments focused on the environmental transport of radioactive iodine from air and vegetation to cows and ultimately to humans.

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A total of 24 CERT experiments were conducted at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory’s Experimental Dairy Farm. Five of the CERT experiments involved human “volunteers” exposed to radioactive iodine either through inhalation or ingestion of milk. Several of the experiments consisted of creating a controlled environment chamber for the inhalation of the radioactive iodine by the participants. Additionally, radioactive iodine was meticulously distributed on a pasture for the cows to graze upon, and their milk was later obtained for consumption by the human participants.

The first CERT experiment consisted of seven human participants ingesting milk containing radioactive iodine and their uptake was determined by examining their thyroid. In three other CERT experiments, about 20 human participants were exposed to radioactive iodine through inhalation by standing in a climate-controlled pasture that released the radioactive material into the air. The thyroids of the human participants and the cows were examined after exposure to radioactive iodine to determine the amount of radioactive material transported into the body. It was reported that minute traces of radioactive iodine entered the body after immediate exposure. 

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Throughout several documents involving the CERT experiments, the participants are referred to as “volunteers” that were also staff members at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory that collaborated with the AEC. The CERT experiments make no reference to the demographics of the participants or if there were any associated adverse health effects due to their exposure to radioactive iodine. Additionally, the CERT experiments do not document if the participants were informed or if they received incentives to participate in the research experiments. Moreover, a congressional hearing in 1981 reported that no follow-up examinations were performed on the participants even though side effects such as cancer were surfacing amongst Americans exposed to radioactive materials.

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Sources

Bunch, D.F., Editor. Controlled Environmental Radioiodine Tests, Progress Report Number Three. Idaho Falls: Idaho Operations Office, U.S.                  Atomic Energy Commission, IDOB12063, January 1968. 
Bunch, D.F., Editor. Controlled Environmental Radioiodine Tests Progress Report Number Two. IdahoFalls: Idaho Operations Office, U.S.                      Atomic Energy Commission, IDOB12053, August 1966.
Experiments, Human Radiation. "The Department of Energy Roadmap to the Story and Records 1944-1974 ("The DOE Roadmap")."                            Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments-ACHRE Report, 1994.
Hawley, C.A., C.W. Sill, G.L. Voelz, and N.F. Islitzer. Controlled Environmental Radioiodine Tests at the National Reactor Testing Station. Idaho              Falls: Idaho Operations Office, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, IDOB12035, June 1964.
Hawley, Jr., C.A., Editor. Controlled Environmental Radioiodine Tests at the National Reactor Testing Station 1965 Progress Report. Idaho                    Falls: Idaho Operations Office, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, IDOB12047, February 1966.

“I-131 Radiation Exposure from Fallout.” National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/i-131.
J. D. Zimbrick and P. G. Voilleque, Editor. Controlled Environmental Radioiodine Tests, Progress Report Number Four. Idaho Falls: Idaho                      Operations Office, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, IDOB12063, January 1969."
U.S. Congress. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. American Nuclear Guinea Pigs: Three Decades of Radiation Experiments on                    U.S. Citizens. Congressional Publications, 1986.https://search.proquest.com/congressional/view/app-gis/congresearch/cmp-1986-hec-              0017.
Voelz, G. L. Annual Report of the Health Services Laboratory, 1968. No. IDO--12071. Idaho Operations Office (AEC), Idaho Falls. Health                        Services Lab., March 1969.

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